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Detroit Free Press Sports Writer

NBA draft lottery

When: Tuesday. Format: The first three picks in the NBA draft are chosen among the 14 non-playoff teams. Picks 4-14 are then assigned in reverse order of winning percentage. Pistons’ chances: Detroit has a 3.6% chance of getting the first pick in the NBA draft. Orlando has the best chance (25%), followed by Charlotte (19.9%), Cleveland (15.6%) and Phoenix (11.9%). Pistons’ picks: Detroit won the tiebreaker with Washington and currently has the seventh overall pick. The Pistons can pick no worse than 10th. Detroit also has the 38th selection in the second round (which moves to 37th if Washington is chosen ahead of Detroit in the lottery).

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CHICAGO — North Texas power forward Tony Mitchell expected the grilling over his underwhelming sophomore season.

But of all the tough interviews he faced this week at the NBA draft combine, his short time with the Pistons on Thursday night left an indelible memory.

“That was probably one of my toughest interviews, actually,” Mitchell said Friday afternoon. “They got after me early, early. But I respect Joe Dumars and all those guys. It was an informative and great interview.”

What was so tough?

“They asked questions constantly,” he said while snapping his fingers for emphasis. “I had to give an answer and be honest with them. It was a great interview, though.”

At least Mitchell hopes so.

Considered a potential top-10 pick after a standout freshman season, he struggled mightily as he had to cope with a coaching change and scouts saying it was obvious he wasn’t playing hard.

To his credit, he admitted the scouts were right.

“Since our season was so tough, I couldn’t get up for the games, somewhat,” Mitchell said. “We had a losing record so it was tough for everybody, but at the same time I tried to be a positive influence each and every game. Still, there’s no excuse for that. Effort is a self and individual thing. It’s really no excuse.”

Mitchell is still projected as a late first-rounder. The Pistons are in the lottery, but with two second-round picks, they could package them to move to the late first round where Mitchell could be waiting.

All he can do is focus on convincing a team he has learned his lesson.

“They don’t want to waste their time,” Mitchell said of the questions. “This is a business, and they want to make sure that I’m the right fit and I don’t blame them. I wish I could have changed it, but at this point, I can’t. I just have to keep on going forward.”